The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1887-06-23
Senator Butler on the South-I he True
Position.

The following is an extract from a Z
speech delivered by Senator Butler
at Greenwood, before the schools on
June Is:
"1tis no disparagement to anybody
to say what, in my judgment, is true,
that in the field of craftsmanship and
civil life we have no cause for enter
tanning feeling of inferiority. Not
taking into account the distinguished
achievements of a long line of illus
trious men of the South who did Sc
much in aid of the establishment o.
the Government, in formulating its
policy and placing it in the front
rank in the family of nations, and
coming down to late- period, J.
think we need not fear comparison
with the most conspicuous achieve.
ments of the men of other sections.
The Constitution prepared by South.
ern statesmen for the government of
the Confederacy is a model of wisdom,
and in many respects an improve
ment on the Constitution of 17S9.
The laws passed in pursuance Of this
Constitution are as exempt from adj
verse criticism as any similar pro.
ducts Of the human intellect, and
fully adapted to- the operations
Of completely organized system of
Republican Government. Itdetracts
from the ability or patriotism Of no
man to say, what I also believe to be
true, that the State papers issued by
Mr.. Davis, as President Of the Con-
fede-acy, will take rank among the
ablest papers of the ablest of Ameri-
can statesmen. In correct and pro-
found exposition Of true and sound
constitutional principles and doc
trine, they are unsurpassed by the.
productions of any period Of the his
tory af Constitutional Government.
With unbending and fearless adhe-
sion to the truth as be understood it,
and conscientious devotion to duty
as it was presented to him to dis.
charge, be has maintained the respect,
and admiration of his friends, bafed5
the malignity of his enemies, and
survives to a venerable old age a
faithful exemplar OF elevated princi
Piles and upright life. So that you,
young gentlemen, the rising genera.
tion, upon whose shoulders must fall
the duty and business of conducting
the affairs of the country, need not
turn your faces in shame when an at
tempt is made to stigmatize the char.
acters of your sires by the appella.
ton of rebel and traitor. Nor
need you offer apologies, when the
false and unjust charge Of incompe.
tency is brought against them. Turn
to the record, which is worthy Of the
study and respect of all men, and
disprove them. Remember that a
decent regard for the virtues and sac
rifces and achievements of those who
have gone before you is not incen.
sistent with the most loyal fidelity to
the new Union, and that trucking
} subserviency is the surest avenue to
| a loss of self.respect, and the ineyi.
| table cause of contempt in others. A
man who permits or joins in the ira
dition of a parent, whatever that pa
: rent may have been, is despisabie
creature who wears the badge of deg
: radiation on his brow. But when he
adds volume to the current Of mis-.
representation and abuse of yirtu.
Gus and honorable parent by joining
. the band of traducers, he invokes and
receives the scorn and contumely OF
every human being whose good opin-
ion is worth cherishiDg, and brands
himself with the mark of coward, and
seeks the level Of the creature who
has fallen so low, and become so
mean as to be beneath the contempt
of an honest watch dog. Do moi
understand me as intoxicating spirit
of sectionalism or dislike to the peo
pie of any portion Of the country
Far from it. I would rather inspire
7 J. feeling of good will and cordial in
: terest in common country. That's
: best accomplished, first, by q proper
: self respect and self:appreciation,
7 and, second, by a mutual regard
l which the first epgeDders."
Senator Butler here alluded to The
: Blair bill, and spoke forcibly Of tbe
educational wants of the South, lay
. ing special emphasis on the Iced O
industrial training.
in